Improvement in school desks and seats



'1. D. THARP.

SCHOOL-DESK AND SEAT.

Patented Feb.22,1876.

mmmzzwmwmm N-FEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D C

1 STATES.

THOMAS-p D. THARP, or MARION, INDIANA.

lMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL DESKS AND SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 174,032, dated February 2 1876; application filed January 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS D. THARP, of Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in Combined School Desk and Seat,of which the following is a specification This invention relates to certain improvements in combined school desks and seats; its object being to provide the desk with a suitable box or receptacle for books and papers, with a foldingleaf which will form the desk-top.when raised, and close the receptacle when down, and also to provide a more secure and durable swinging seat in front of such deskthan in the desks of this class as heretofore constructed.

My invention consists, first, in a desk composed of two end pieces, of wood or other material, provided with branching legs, and of sufficient width to form, when united by suitable side, top, and bottom pieces, a receptacle for books or papers, and having a swinging or folding leaf in front, which, when raised, will form a suitable work-table for the occupant of the desk, and when down will close the receptacle, being provided with a look by which it may be secured, as more fully hereinafter set forth; and, second, in an improved seat and support for the same,

consisting of two swinging arms, to which the seat-bottom is attached, pivoted to metallic supporting-plates attached to the end pieces of the desk, said arms being bent upwardly at their rear ends and connected by means of a cross bar or beam, and provided on their under sides with suitable stops which act, in conjunction with said cross bar or beam, to hold the seat securely in position when down, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of my improved desk and seat, and Fig. 2 adetached view of one of the end pieces and the adjacent portion of the swingingsea-t; Fig.3, a perspective inside view of one of the seatsupportin g arms, and Fig. 4 an outside view of the same.

The letter i represents the end pieces, constructed of wood,'with the usual branching legs, it. The upper portions of said end pieces taper toward their tops, and are of sufficient width to form, when connected by the side, top, and bottom pieces of the desk, a convenient receptacle, 0, for books, papers, and other articles. The letter A represents a swinging or folding leaf, attached to the front edge of the top piece 0 by means of hinges similar to the hinges employed with ordinary table-leaves, and to the under side of said top 0 are pivoted, at their inner ends, two swinging bars, B, which may be brought under the leaf A to support the same, or folded in the back part of the desk in. order to allow said leaf to drop. The letter D represents a bar, of wood orsuitable material, extending from one end piece to the other,

and securely attached to the same just below the bars B, in order to support the same when thrown out under the folding leaf. M represents a front piece, secured to the lower part of the front portion. of the receptacle 0, against which the folding leaf falls flush when down, either the front piece or the leaf being provided with a lock for fastening said leaf. The letter F represents a supporting-plate, one being attached to the inside of each end piece just below the bottom of the receptacle 0. The rear portions of said plates project beyond the back-piece P of the desk, and are rounded, forming supports G for the swing arms E, to which the seat-bottom R is attached. Said arms E are pivoted to the supports G, and are bent upward back of their points of attachment, as shown at T, and are united bymeans of a cross-bar, K, firmly bolted to the same. of the arms E are formed the concave shoulders H, which bear against the convex edges of the supporting-plates F and the end pieces I, forming stops which limit the motion of the seat in adownward direction. The cross bar K, secured between the bent ends of the arms E, also serves to hold the seat in position and limit its motion, abutting against the inner side of the projecting edge of the back piece V, and serving as a buffer to deaden the sound usually attendant upon dropping the desk-seats of this class.

ters Patent, is-

Upon the under sides 1. In a school-desk having a receptacle, cross-bar K, with the supporting plates F, to G, the combination of the folding leaf A, which said arms are pivoted, substantially as supporting-bars B, [and cross-piece D, snbdescribed.

. stantially as described. THOMAS D. THARP.

2. In a school-desk, the combination of the Witnesses: seat-supporting arms E, provided with the THOMAS C. OONNOLLY, shoulders H, the bent ends T, and connecting ULYSSES G. WHITE. 

